*** Five years later ***

Sophie's stomach was fluttering as she got dressed that morning. Keefe had hailed her and asked if he could come over to hang out. He did that a lot, so it wasn't unusual... but something in his voice sounded... off.

So she picked out the tunic Keefe had given her when they graduated Foxfire- ice blue with Empaths give me all the feels written in large white letters across the front. Then she pulled on a pair of leggings and ran a brush through her hair before walking out to the Panakes tree to wait for Keefe.

But he was already out there, leaning against the braided bark, cape blowing in the wind. Sophie smiled at how he still looked just like he had when they were kids. He was a little older, sure, a little more broken. They had all seen too much for kids barely even in the elite levels. But his hair was just as perfectly styled as ever, and his clothes- actually, his clothes weren't as wrinkled as usual.

When Sophie approached, Keefe looked at her and smiled the smile that always melted her heart. They had been dating for five years now- with only a couple rough patches- and Sophie had been wondering lately about how their lives would go. Would Keefe accept the job he had been offered as a Regent? Would Sophie accept the offered Emissary position? Would she one day become a Councillor?

She didn't know. And she'd been stressing about it way too much lately. Which was why she so looked forward to hanging out with Keefe. He always made her feel safe and secure, and she was able to relax in his arms like no other place.

Keefe smirked, and Sophie blushed- realizing she'd been staring at him. She finished walking up to him and gave him a light kiss. He kissed her back, then took her hand.

"That's a lot of stress, Foster."

"Sorry. Just... been thinking about life, you know? What I'm going to do? I know a lot of people think I should become an Emissary, and then a Councillor some day... but I don't know if I want that. At least... not now. I want to live a little first, you know?"

"Yeah." His voice was soft. "I do know."

"What about you? Ready to become Lord Keefe?"

He grinned a little. "Almost. There are a couple things in my life I want to get straightened out first."

"Oh?"

"Yeah." But he didn't elaborate, just tilting his head back to look at the clouds. She did too, watching them drift by without a care and wishing she could be like that.

After several minutes, Keefe spoke. "I've been looking up some stuff about humans. It's weird how they always take the guy's name when they get married. I guess it makes sense, though... no having to decide. It's just decided for you."

"Yeah. Although sometimes the girl will keep her name, especially if a lot of people know her by it. Like a doctor or a writer." Sophie wondered what had brought this on. "Why were you looking that up?"

He shrugged. "Just wanted to see what it was like for you. You seem so natural, I sometimes forget that you were raised in a completely different world."

"I do too, sometimes. But I don't feel natural. It's like I'm always trying to catch up and do things the elvin way- but I keep messing it up. Sometimes I think I'll never get it all straight."

"You will. But honestly? You don't need to. Because humans have some pretty awesome traditions. Like birthdays. I can't believe elves don't celebrate birthdays! Or at least inception days."

Sophie laughed. She had told her friends about birthdays when she realized her 'sweet sixteen' was coming up. They had thrown her a party she would never forget.

Suddenly, Keefe took her other hand too and looked at her. She looked into his eyes, taken aback by the sudden intensity in them. He stared at her for a moment longer before dropping both hands, reaching one into his pocket- and dropping to one knee.

Sophie's hand went to her mouth as her brain officially shut down. "Oh!" She was on the verge of hyperventilating when he spoke.

"Sophie Elizabeth Foster. I love you more than anything in the world, and I can't imagine my future without you by my side. I know this isn't how you were raised, but I can't imagine putting the Sencen name on someone as beautiful and perfect as you. I would be honored to be called Foster. And I know you are still thinking about your future, so turn me down if you think you want to keep your options open. But I think I have a good enough read of your emotions... that I'm not too far out to ask you this."

He pulled out a box, flicking it open to reveal a beautiful ring made out of a shining white metal, with a gem set in the middle. The gem looked like a drop of brown paint and a drop of ice blue paint swirled together. It was the most beautiful thing Sophie had ever seen. "Foster... will you marry me?"

Tears streamed down Sophie's face so hard she could barely breathe. She nodded so hard she hurt her neck. "Yes, Keefe! Oh, yes!" He slipped the cool ring on her finger, and she threw her arms around him so hard she nearly knocked them both off balance. He stood up, hugging her back and lifting her into the air to twirl her around.

While he was still spinning her, she tilted her head back to kiss him. Their lips met in an explosion of feelings, and Sophie barely even noticed when he set her down. She just kissed him again, pulling him down with her arms around his neck. When they finally pulled away, laughing, Sophie hugged him tight.

He stroked her hair and whispered into her neck. "I love you."

"I love you more."

"Not possible. Not at all."

They kissed again, only pulling away when Sophie felt something light landing all over her. She looked up, confused, and saw... glitter? It was coating both of them. Sophie looked around, groaning when she saw the group of people that had snuck up on them.

"Surprise!" yelled Biana, throwing some more glitter.

Keefe laughed. "You came too early, B. Again with the horrible timing."

"Yeah, well, that was pretty adorable. But save it for when the rest of us aren't here."

Sophie buried her face in her hands. In addition to Biana, her parents, Dex, Fitz, Tam and Linh, Alden and Della, and Mr. Forkle were standing in a group around them. Edaline rushed forward to wrap Sophie in a hug. Sophie hugged her back and glared at Keefe over her shoulder. "You didn't tell me you invited everyone."

"You think we'd miss this?" laughed Biana.

"Well..." Dex said jokingly. Biana poked him, and he laughed. "Just kidding." They had been dating for almost as long as Sophie and Keefe, and Dex had hailed Sophie several times, panicking in the middle of the night about how he was supposed to propose to her. It was bound to happen any day now- he'd had the ring for nearly a year.

Fitz also didn't look quite as excited as Biana, but he was smiling. Their friendship had been rocky for a while, but after a long break they had decided that they were ready to be friends again. Neither had mentioned the drama they'd gone through. Besides, Fitz had his own busy life. He was already an Emissary, despite being only in his mid-twenties. He had dated more girls than Sophie could remember, but eventually decided to stay single in favor of one day becoming a Councillor.

Sophie took turns hugging all her friends, then Della and Alden. Last, she hugged Mr. Forkle- who definitely had a tear in his eye.

Grady was the only one who didn't hug Keefe... but he did place a hand on his shoulder and tell him to take good care of Sophie.

Finally, everyone was done hugging. Sophie and Keefe were both exhausted. Edaline herded everyone inside for some Mallowmelt, letting them sink to the ground and lean against Calla's tree.

"Wow," Sophie breathed. "That was interesting."

"Yeah... I didn't know they'd be that excited."

Sophie laughed. "You're never getting that glitter out of your hair."

Keefe, for once, didn't seem interested in his hair. "Eh." he was silent for a long moment. "Can I tell you something?"

Sophie tugged on an eyelash reflexively. "Yeah?"

"I have absolutely no clue what to do now."

Sophie laughed, then realized he was serious. "Um... I guess we plan the wedding?" The words sounded foreign to her ears.

"I have absolutely no clue how to do that."

"Good thing you're friends with me, then!" said Biana, appearing in front of them.

Sophie jumped, then laughed. "You and Edaline will have to fight over that privilege."

"Or we could do it together. I wonder if she wants to use some of Jolie's things..." she mused.

Sophie realized that this must be hard for her adoptive parents, having already been through this. She turned to Keefe. "You promise you're not secretly a Pyrokinetic?"

"Promise." He kissed her, and Biana laughed.

"You two are adorable."

Keefe smirked, before leaning back to look at the clouds. "Yes. Yes, we are."

A/N Do you want the wedding now or later? Cause I have it typed out and ready.